Uncle Sam's Boys with Pershing's Troops eBook

Until within an hour of daylight the French captain
and lieutenant and their American pupils continued
along the first line trench. Save for occasional
shell fire it proved to be a rather quiet night.
Leaving the front a sufficient time before dawn Major
Wells and his subordinates went back to the fifth line
trench. After breakfasting, they retired to bunks
that had been bedded in advance of their coming, and
slept until late in the afternoon.

“There is one thing I like about the French
trenches,” declared Greg Holmes, with enthusiasm,
as soldiers entered with the beginnings of a meal.

“And what is that?” inquired Captain Ribaut
eagerly.

“The smell of the coffee when it comes in,”
grinned Greg.

“To-day’s sleep, and the meals, I have
found to be of the best,” said Captain Dick
quietly, as he sat down to eat. “I am still
more interested in the hope that to-night in the fire
trenches will be more exciting than last night.”

“Perhaps it will be,” suggested Captain
Ribaut, “for I have received word that patrols
will be sent out into No Man’s Land to-night,
and it has been suggested to me that one American officer
should go with the patrol. Which one of you
shall it be?”

“I know that Captain Prescott wants to go,”
said Major Wells, as he noted Dick’s start of
pleasure. “Therefore, Captain Ribaut,
suppose you send him with the patrol.”

“Thank you, sir,” came Dick’s quick
assent. “Nothing could please me more.
It will make to-night a time surely worth while to
me.”

Before the meal had been finished the German artillerymen
began the late afternoon “strafing,” as
a bombardment is called.

When the shell-fire had ceased Ribaut led his guests
down to the front or fire trench. Lieutenant
De Verne had not been with them since breakfast time
in the morning.

“May I relieve one of your sentries, Captain,
and take his post until there is something else for
me to do?” Dick asked.

“Yes, certainly,” agreed Ribaut.
“I will send for the corporal, who will instruct
you as the other sentries are instructed.”

So Dick took the bayoneted rifle of a soldier who
was much delighted at having a brief opportunity for
sleep thus thrust upon him. Dick listened to
the corporal’s orders, then, for the next two
hours stood gazing patiently out over No Man’s
Land. At the end of that time the sentries were
changed and Dick stood down gladly enough, for his
task had become somewhat dull and irksome.

Half an hour after being relieved Prescott heard a
sentry challenging in low tones. Then Lieutenant
De Verne came into the fire trench with a sergeant
and six men.

“This is the patrol,” announced the younger
Frenchman. “All my men for to-night are
veterans at the game. Captain Prescott, do you
wish to try your hand as a bomber tonight?”